Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

A Randomized Controlled Study Of The Effects Of Targeted Health Education On Uptake Of Contraceptives Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Nnewi City, South-East Nigeria, Yanmeer Tyotswam, Rosebella Iseme-Ondiek, Eliphas Makunyi

Population Health, East Africa

Objective: There is a need for contraception uptake among people to enable them to fulfil their right to determine the timing, number and spacing of their children. In regions with poor contraceptive prevalence rates, lack of effective education has been largely implicated, and Nigeria falls among such regions. Thus, the present study is designed to examine the impact of an educational intervention on uptake of contraceptives among women aged 18–49 years seeking care at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi.

Methods: Being an interventional study to underscore the effect of targeted health education on uptake of contraceptives, …

Prevalence Of Sickle Cell Trait And Needs Assessment For Uptake Of Sickle Cell Screening Among Secondary School Students In Kampala City, Uganda, Shamim Namukasa, Sarah Nakaziba, Grace Among, Lydia A Sasira, Posiano Mayambala, Joseph Atukwatse, Mary Namuguzi, Ahmed Sarki, Rose Maina

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most frequent and traumatizing genetic disease in Uganda, with the prevalence of the sickle cell trait (SCT) estimated at 13.3% leading to serious psycho-social and economic impact on the patients and their families.

Aim This study aimed to determine the burden of SCT and factors influencing the uptake of screening services among secondary school students in Uganda.

Methods We used an analytical cross-sectional design with a multi-stage sampling approach. A total of 399 students from four secondary schools in Kampala City were enrolled in this study. Data were gathered using semi-structured …

Enhancing Antenatal Education In Pakistan: An Audit And Recommendations, Maliha Abbas, Shelina Bhamani, Yasmin Kanjani, Lumaan Sheikh

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: Antenatal Education equips parents with knowledge for safe maternal health and infant care. It also reduces fear and anxiety during childbirth. ANE curriculum can vary according to country and institute. It can include classes focusing on childbirth, pain relief techniques, mode of birth, parenting, breastfeeding, breathing techniques, etc. Although ANE is widely practiced in developed countries, there is no standard program in developing countries like Pakistan. This study aims to improve antenatal education at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan potentially proposing an upgraded curriculum as a national standards
Methods: This multiphase study used mix-method design was conducted …

Asynchronous Online Focus Groups For Research With People Living With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis And Family Caregivers: Usefulness, Acceptability And Lessons Learned, Shelagh K. Genuis, Westerly Luth, Garnette Weber, Tania M. Bubela, Wendy S. Johnston

Office of the Provost

Background: People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) face disability- and travel-related barriers to research participation. We investigate the usefulness and acceptability of asynchronous, online focus groups (AOFGs) for research involving people affected by ALS (patients and family caregivers) and outline lessons learned.
Methods: The ALS Talk Project, consisting of seven AOFGs and 100 participants affected by ALS, provided context for this investigation. Hosted on the secure itracks Board™ platform, participants interacted in a threaded web forum structure. Moderators posted weekly discussion questions and facilitated discussion. Data pertaining to methodology, participant interaction and experience, and moderator technique were analyzed using itracks …

Kenyan Palliative Care Providers’ And Leaders’ Perceptions Of Palliative Care Research Needs And Support To Facilitate Rigorous Research, K. Cartmell, E. Doherty, Nancy Gikaara, Z. Ali, S. Qanungo, E. S. Melikam, R. A. Powell

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Palliative care (PC) can reduce symptom distress and improve quality of life for patients and their families experiencing life-threatening illness. While the need for PC in Kenya is high, PC service delivery and research is limited. Qualitative research is needed to explore potential areas for PC research and support needed to enable that research. This insight is critical for informing a national PC research agenda and mobilizing limited resources for conducting rigorous PC research in Kenya.

Objectives: To explore perceptions of priority areas for PC research and support needed to facilitate rigorous research from the perspective of Kenyan PC …

Neurocognitive Outcomes Of Children Exposed To And Living With Hiv Aged 3–5 Years In Kilifi, Kenya, Esther Chongwo, Catherine Wedderburn, Moses Kachama, Antipa Sigilai, Paul Mwangi, Janet Thoya, Rachel Odhiambo, Katana Ngombo, Charles Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development

Introduction: Globally, 1.7 million children are living with HIV, with the majority of them residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to reduced rates of vertical transmission of HIV, there is an increasing population of children born to HIV-infected mothers who remain uninfected. There is a growing concern around the development of these children in the antiretroviral therapy era. This study examined the neurocognitive outcomes of children who are HIV-exposed infected (CHEI), HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU) and HIV-unexposed uninfected (CHUU) and explored the relationship between child neurocognitive outcomes and child's biomedical and caregivers’ psychosocial factors.

Methods: CHEI, CHUU and CHEU aged 3–5 years …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Sexual And Reproductive Health Literacy Among Youth Living With Hiv In Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study, Benedicto Mugabi, Miisa Nanyingi, Richard Kabanda, Juliet Ndibazza, Peter Elyanu, John Baptist Asiimwe, Gorret Nazziwa, Gilbert Habaasa, Adeodata Kekitiinwa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

Adequate sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL) among young people has been linked to informed sexual behaviours. Studies on SRHL have largely been conducted among the general adolescent population. Little is known about youth aged 15-24 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (YLHIV). There is a possible lack of SRHL in this population, considering the high rate of teenage pregnancies and unprotected sex reported by YLHIV. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated personal and environmental factors for SRHL among YLHIV at a high-volume urban HIV Clinic in Uganda.

Methods

Through a cross-sectional survey, YLHIV receiving routine …

Sexual Violence And Associated Factors Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Rwanda: A 2020 Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey, Lilian Nuwabaine, Joseph Kawuki, Earnest Amwiine, John Baptist Asiimwe, Quraish Sserwanja, Ghislaine Gatasi, Elorm Donkor, Humphrey Atwijukiire

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background; Sexual violence against women is a global public health issue with both short- and long-term effects on the physical and mental health of women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual violence and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Rwanda.

Methods: We used secondary data from the 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 1,700 participants, who were selected using multistage stratified sampling. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore factors associated with sexual violence using SPSS (version 25).

Results: Of the 1,700 women of reproductive age, 12.4% (95%CI: 11.0–14.1) had …

Factors Influencing The Use Of Multiple Hiv Prevention Services Among Transport Workers In A City In Southwestern Uganda, Benjamin Betunga, Phionah Atuhaire, Catherine Nakasiita, Christa Kanyamuneza, Proscovia Namiiro, Joseph Tugume, Matovu Hairat, Ahmed Sarki, Benedicto Mugabi, Birungi Lilian, Richard Mugisha Richard Mugisha, Edward Kumakech, John Baptist Asiimwe

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

The use of multiple HIV prevention services has been found to decrease the risk of acquiring HIV when tailored to individuals at risk of HIV exposure, including transport workers. Therefore, we assessed the uptake of multiple HIV prevention services (≥2) and associated factors among transport workers in a city in Southwestern Uganda. This cross-sectional study comprised motorcycle taxi riders, motor vehicle and truck drivers, aged 18 to 55 years who were selected and responded to an interviewer-administered questionnaire, between November 2021 and February 2022. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical and modified Poisson regression analyses. Out of 420 participants, 97.6% …

Effectiveness Of An Integrated Multilevel Early Child Development Intervention On Caregiver Knowledge And Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation Of The Malezi Program In Tanzania, Gretchen Antelman, Josephine Ferla, Michelle M. Gill, Heather J. Hoffman, Teopista Komba, Amina Abubakar, Pieter Remes, Ola Jahanpour, Martha Mariki, Mary A. Mang’Enya, Roland Van De Ven

Institute for Human Development

Background The quality of caregiving and the parent-child relationship is critical for early child development (ECD) and has been shown to be modifiable. This study evaluated an ECD project in Tanzania, assessing the effectiveness of radio messaging (RM) alone and a combined radio messaging/video job aids/ECD (RMV-ECD) intervention.

Methods This two-arm pre-post evaluation study enrolled a cohort of caregivers of children 0–24 months in four districts of Tabora region, following them for 9 months. ECD radio messages were broadcast on popular stations at least 10 times/day reaching all study districts. In two districts, community health workers (CHW), trained in UNICEF’s …

Covid-19, Nutrition, And Gender: An Evidence-Informed Approach To Gender-Responsive Policies And Programs, Anna Kalbarczyk, Noora-Lisa Aberman, Bregje S M Van Asperen, Rosemary Morgan, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Bianca Carducci, Rebecca Heidkamp, Saskia Osendarp, Neha Kumar, Anna Lartey

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

In addition to the direct health impacts of COVID-19, government and household mitigation measures have triggered negative indirect economic, educational, and food and health system impacts, hitting low-and middle-income countries the hardest and disproportionately affecting women and girls. We conducted a gender focused analysis on five critical and interwoven crises that have emerged because of the COVID-19 crisis and exacerbated malnutrition and food insecurity. These include restricted mobility and isolation; reduced income; food insecurity; reduced access to essential health and nutrition services; and school closures. Our approach included a theoretical gender analysis, targeted review of the literature, and a visual …

Determinant Of Repeat Revascularization Within 5 Years Of Percutaneous Coronary Lntervention At A Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi: A Matched Case-Control Study, Komal Valliani, Azmina Artani, Iqbal Azam, Javed Tai, M. Masood Kadir

Community Health Sciences

Objective: To determine factors associated with repeat revascularization among adults aged 25 years and above within 5 years of first Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) at a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted through a hospital records review. A total of 90 cases with repeat revascularization and 180 controls without repeat revascularization were included. Data was analyzed using Multiple Conditional Logistic Regression.
Results: The mean age was similar in cases and controls (60.05 ± 10.01 vs 62.20 ± 10.43 years) and sex (male: 77.8% vs. 76.1%). History of being an ever-smoker (40% vs. 25%), overweight (36.3% vs. …

Let’S Do Better: Public Representations Of Covid-19 Science, Timothy Caulfield, Tania M. Bubela, Jonathan Kimmelman, Vardit Ravitsky

Office of the Provost

COVID science is being both done and circulated at a furious pace. While it is inspiring to see the research community responding so vigorously to the pandemic crisis, all this activity has also created a churning sea of bad data, conflicting results, and exaggerated headlines. With representations of science becoming increasingly polarized, twisted, and hyped, there is growing concern that the relevant science is being represented to the public in a manner that may cause confusion, inappropriate expectations, and the erosion of public trust. Here we explore some of the key issues associated with the representations of science in the …

Use Of Face Masks To Limit The Spread Of The Covid-19 Among Western Ugandans: Knowledge, Attitude And Practices, Franck Katembo Sikakulya, Robinson Ssebuufu, Simon Binezero Mambo, Theophilus Pius, Annet Kabanyoro, Elizabeth Kamahoro, Yusuf Mulumba, Jean Kakule Muhongya, Patrick Kyamanywa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

The world is grappling with an ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic using preventive measures such as personal hygiene, face masks, restrictions on travel and gatherings in communities, in addition to a race to find a vaccine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the western Uganda community on the proper use of face masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Methods A cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was carried out from 1^st July to 10^th July 2020 among western Ugandans of the consent age of 18 years and above. Data was …

Community-Level Interventions For Pre-Eclampsia (Clip) In Pakistan: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial, Rahat Qureshi, Sana Sheikh, Zahra Hoodbhoy, Sumedha Sharma, Marianne Vidler, Beth A. Payne, Imran Ahmed, J Mark Ansermino, Jeffrey Bone, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Objectives: To reduce all-cause maternal and perinatal mortality and major morbidity through Lady Health Worker (LHW)-facilitated community engagement and early diagnosis, stabilization and referral of women with preeclampsia, an important contributor to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes given delays in early detection and initial management.
Study design: In the Pakistan Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) cluster randomized controlled trial (NCT01911494), LHWs engaged the community, recruited pregnant women from 20 union councils (clusters), undertook mobile health-guided clinical assessment for preeclampsia, and referral to facilities after stabilization.
Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was a composite of maternal, fetal and …

School Health Education Program In Pakistan (Shepp)-A Threefold Health Education Feasibility Trial In Schoolchildren From A Lower-Middle-Income Country, Aysha Almas, Romaina Iqbal, Sania Sabir, Abdul Ghani, Khawar Kazmi

Department of Medicine

Background: The school environment plays an essential role in promoting health education and physical activity for children and adolescence, and they are more likely to adapt it into their adulthood. School health education program has been endorsed and emphasized by the World Health Organization has not been implemented in true spirit in Pakistan yet. We aim to test feasibility of threefold health education program in children and its potential efficacy on physical activity and diet and cardiometabolic risk factors by including BP, BMI, and waist circumference.
Methods: It is a parallel-group feasibility intervention trial. It is being conducted in two …

Leveraging The Use Of Mhealth In Patients With Depression Among Low- And Middle- Income Countries, Naureen Akber Ali, Adeel Khoja

School of Nursing & Midwifery

No abstract provided.

Regional Variation In Chronic Kidney Disease And Associated Factors In Hypertensive Individuals In Rural South Asia: Findings From Control Of Blood Pressure And Risk Attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan And Sri Lanka, Liang Feng, Hithanadura Asita De Silva, Imtiaz Jehan, Anuradhani Kasturiratne, Gulshan Himani, Mohammad Abul Hasnat, Tazeen Jafar, Cobra-Bps Study Group

Community Health Sciences

Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its cross-country variation among hypertensive individuals in rural Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We also explored the factors associated with CKD in these populations.
Method: We studied baseline data from the Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (COBRA-BPS) trial, an ongoing cluster randomized controlled trial on 2643 hypertensive adults ≥40 years of age from 30 randomly selected rural clusters, 10 in each of the three countries. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) /min/1.73 m2 or a urine albumin:creatinine …

Improving Identification And Child-Focused Collaborative Care For Children Of Parents With A Mental Illness In Tyrol, Austria, Hanna Christiansen, Annette Bauer, Batool Fatima, Melinda Goodyear, Ingunn Olea Lund, Ingrid Zechmeister-Koss, Jean Lillian Paul

Community Health Sciences

Background: Children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI) are more likely to experience negative long-term adversities. However, interventions to support their needs early can significantly enhance adjustment and reduce negative outcomes. Approximately one in four children currently lives with a parent with mental illness worldwide. The lifelong impact for individuals, governments, and broader society is likely to be substantial. There are significant workforce barriers to the early identification of COPMI and addressing their needs, particularly within the adult mental health care system. The current study aims to reduce such barriers and to improve identification of COPMI in the current …

Are Family Planning Vouchers Effective In Increasing Use, Improving Equity And Reaching The Underserved? An Evaluation Of A Voucher Program In Pakistan, Moazzam Ali, Syed Khurram Azmat, Hasan Bin Hamza, Md Mizanur Rahman, Waqas Hameed

Community Health Sciences

Background: Low modern contraceptive prevalence rate and high unmet need in Pakistan aggravates the vulnerabilities of unintended pregnancies and births contributing to maternal morbidity and mortality. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of a free, single-purpose voucher approach in increasing the uptake, use and better targeting of modern contraceptives among women from the lowest two wealth quintiles in rural and urban communities of Punjab province, Pakistan.
Methods: A quasi-interventional study with pre- and post-phases was implemented across an intervention (Chakwal) and a control district (Bhakkar) in Punjab province (August 2012-January 2015). To detect a 15% increase in modern contraceptive …

Frequency Of G6pd Mediterranean In Individuals With And Without Malaria In Southern Pakistan, Bushra Moiz, Haroon Muhammad Arshad, Ahmed Raheem Raheem, Hasan Hayat, Najia Karim Ghanchi, M Asim Beg

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Pakistan has an estimated annual burden of 1.5 million malaria cases. The current situation calls for an efective malaria control and eradication programme in this country. Currently, primaquine is an attractive option for eliminating reservoirs of Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites and killing gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum. However, this drug causes haemolysis in individuals who are glucose-6-phosphate (G6PD) defcient. It is important to map G6PD defciency and malaria distribution in Pakistan to design an efective malaria eradication regimen. Frequency of G6PD defciency (G6PDd) in malaria patients has not been reported from Pakistan in any meaningful way. The purpose of this study …

The Effect Of Breastfeeding On The Cognitive And Language Development Of Children Under 3 Years Of Age: Results Of Balochistan-Early Childhood Development Project, Meesha Iqbal Iqbal, Ghazala Rafique, Sumera Aziz Ali

Community Health Sciences

Background: Breastfeeding is known to be an important factor in the overall growth and development of children. Breastfeeding is thought to lead to enhance cognitive and language development of a child. However, this association has not yet been scientifically and statistically established. This study aimed to explore this association in children under 3 years of age.
Methods: This was a secondary data-analysis of the baseline data of “Balochistan – Early Childhood Development Project”. The final sample comprised of 604 children less than 3 years of age. The children were selected by three-stage stratified random sampling from three districts of Balochistan …

Impact Of Water And Sanitation And Health Education Interventions On Health And Hygiene Behaviors: A Study From A Northern Pakistani Village, Aysha Zahidie, Fauziah Rabbani

Community Health Sciences

Introduction: Water and sanitation interventions were delivered in the northern areas of Pakistan as a joint venture of the Aga Khan University and the Aga Khan Health Systems Oshikhandass Diarrhea and Dysentery Project (1989-96) followed by the Aga Khan Water, Sanitation, Health and Hygiene Studies Program (WSHHSP). Through these interventions water treatment plants, new pit latrines along with a component of health education were introduced. Objectives: To explore perceptions, knowledge and practices of inhabitants of Oshikhandass village in Gilgit related to water quality, latrine use and hand washing following the intervention. Methods: Through a cross-sectional study during June-July 2012, six …

Food For Thought: Eathing For The Baby & You, Cassandra Fernandes Faria

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Anti-Smoking Messages Amongst High School Students In Pakistan, Syed M. A. Zaidi, Abdul L. Bikak, Ayesha Shaheryar, Syed H. Imam, Javaid A. Khan

Department of Medicine

Background: Surveys have provided evidence that tobacco use is widely prevalent amongst the youth in Pakistan. Several reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of various tobacco control programs, however, few have taken into account the perceptions of students themselves regarding these measures. The aim of this study was to determine the most effective anti-smoking messages that can be delivered to high-school students in Pakistan, based on their self-rated perceptions. It also aimed to assess the impact of pictorial/multi-media messages compared with written health warnings and to discover differences in perceptions of smokers to those of non-smokers to health warning messages. Methods: …

Impact Of Information Sources On The Knowledge Of Adolescents About Hepatitis B, Ali Minhal Thaver, Ameera Kamal

Section of Internal Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of various sources of information on school going adolescents (belonging to higher social strata between ages 14-19 years) regarding Hepatitis B; its various types, importance, symptoms and cures.METHODS: A self-administered survey was conducted among the secondary school students (9-12 grades) of a private school for this purpose.RESULTS: A total of 160 students were approached from which 158 (98%) agreed to take part in the survey. Overall 98% students claimed to know something about Hepatitis B. But only 52% of all had comprehensive and correct knowledge about symptoms, causes and measures for prevention of Hepatitis B. …

Medical Ethics: A Slow But Sustained Revolution In Pakistan’S Healthcare, Muhammad Shahid Shamim, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Educating And Informing Patients Receiving Psychopharmacological Medications: Are Family Physicians In Pakistan Up To The Task?, Hammad Ashraf Ganatra, Hadi Bhurgri, Roomasa Channa, Fauzia Ahmad Bawany, Syed Nabeel Zafar, Rafia Ishfaq Chaudhry, Syeda Hina Batool, Abdul Basit, Mehmood Asghar, Sarah Saleem, Haider Naqvi

Community Health Sciences

Introduction: Studies have shown a high prevalence of psychiatric illnesses among Patients in primary health care settings. Family physicians have a fundamental role in managing psychiatric illness with psychopharmacological medications. Providing information about the disease, its management and the potential adverse effects of the medications is an important part of the management of mental illnesses. Our objective was to determine if Patients who were prescribed psychopharmacological drugs by family physicians at a community health center in Karachi, Pakistan were provided adequate education about their disease and its management.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Community Health Centre (CHC), …

Sehat-1: Pehli Class: Asatza Aur Sehat Ke Karkuno Ke Liye Aik Gaed, Tashmin Kassam-Khamis, Farah Shivji, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta

Books

No abstract provided.